Lift Bakhtiyari deportation threat, lawyer pleads

July 31 2003

The threat of deportation should be lifted from pregnant detainee Roqia Bakhtiyari, who was at risk of giving birth prematurely, according to her lawyer Jeremy Moore.

Mr Moore yesterday wrote to the Federal Government asking for an undertaking Ms Bakhtiyari be able to stay in Australia until well after the birth of her sixth child. "This threat of deportation is just outrageous," Mr Moore said.

Mr Moore said Ms Bakhtiyari was stable yesterday after being flown from Port Augusta to the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide on Monday after complications with her pregnancy.

It was feared Ms Bakhtiyari, who is 28 weeks pregnant, might give birth yesterday but her condition had stabilised. Ms Bakhtiyari, whose claim to be from Afghanistan has been rejected by the Federal Government, gave birth to her latest child at 30 weeks.

Mr Moore said Ms Bakhtiyari's eldest sons, Alamdar, 15, and Monty, 13, were distressed by the sudden removal last Friday of their uncle, Mahzer Ali, who was deported to Pakistan.");document.write("